The weather is getting warmer, spring has sprung, and the kids are itching to get outside. Why not make their play date both fun and educational? This adventure play date really set the tone for the rest of our spring and summer and was the perfect afternoon activity for little ones. I asked a group of my 4-year-old's friends (and moms) to meet us at a nearby park. Everyone brought their own sack lunch and we started out with a picnic. When lunch was wrapping up, I had the first activity set out and ready to go.
These adorable Color Your Own Canvas Backpacks were such a fun and simple craft for the kids. I brought various markers and they got right to work making them their own. 
When they had finished their masterpieces, the kids each got to fill them up with a Smile Face Neon Water Bottle (which I prefilled with ice water), a Lady Bug Notebook, a set of crayons, some sunglasses, a bug jar, and some fruit snacks. I created an activity for them and printed out copies for the moms. 
The bug jars were used for more than bugs and our little ones wandered all around the park, scouting out the items on the list. It also gave us a lot of conversation starters -- is the grass long or short? Can you find a little stick instead of a long one? How many different colors of flowers do you see? Did you find a smooth rock or a bumpy one? 
The notebooks and crayons were used to draw pictures of the other things they saw on our nature walk: the sun, clouds, trees, friends, and anything else that came into their little minds. The water kept them cool. 
Even a spring afternoon play date can be memorable and educational with a little effort and imagination. Our adventure play date was a special one for sure!
